Divorce and Separation - California Edition: A practical guide to making smart decisions (Divorce and Separation: A Practical Guide to Making Smart Decisions)

When couples separate they face emotional upheaval. They also need to make important decisions affecting everyone around them, especially their children.Divorce and Separation is the one book about divorce that starts with the premise: This is your life. These are your decisions. You are the ones who really understand your family. You are capable of making wise, responsible choices. So, here are some methods to help you talk about and make smart decisions.Divorce and Separation is a simple guide to mutual problem-solving. It will NOT tell you what to do. It will NOT make judgments about how you have lived your life, or how you should live in the future. It will NOT give you legal or financial advice. What this book WILL DO is help you figure out what you need to discuss. It WILL help you gather information to help you make good choices for you and your family. It WILL point to a number of helpful options. And, it WILL help you decide what is what is best for you and your familyThere is no roadmap to a successful divorce—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Your family is unique, your needs are unique, and the solutions must be unique. We wrote this book to show couples how to take control of the decisions they are facing. The first step is to realize that the confusion and anxiety you are experiencing are real and universally experienced by couples who are considering or having decided to separate and divorce. The breakdown of a relationship is hard. Your life will change. The person you are parting from was once the person you thought you would be with for the rest of your life. The dreams, plans, and expectations you had for your family are ending. Divorce and Separation will help you think about difficult decisions:• what each of you will do to care for your children and look out for them• how you manage as parents living in two households• the best ways for you to use the family income in order to provide for two households• how you want to divide your assets (what you own) and debts (what you owe)• when and how you will tell the children and how to deal with their questions• what to do about your family and friends who are concerned about you, your children and your spouse• and, most importantly, how you will talk with one another about the divorce so that you can make all these decisions together.We believe this book, like your family, is unique. You can find books that talk about how to manage post-divorce parenting or coping with the emotional impact of divorce.Divorce and Separation contain specific information about and resources for divorce in California. It is a guide to help you work together to create fair, workable and practical decisions for you and your family.Divorce and Separation is not pop-psychology; it does not offer pre-packaged answers. It does not offer one-size-fits-all financial solutions. And, it won’t tell you how to fight and win.Divorce and Separation will help you work together through "mutual problem-solving." Using this method, even highly conflicted couples can develop smart decisions about separation, children, and finances. We help you and your spouse create these solutions through activities, guided lessons, and presentation of helpful information.The book is a guide to help you address key issues such as whether and when to separate, how to make smart choices and ways to structure your finances to provide for the family's needs.